A zero windchill, snow, 30-degree waters? What the heck -- take the plunge

  

A few days ago, I compiled some of the best photos of 2013 from across the globe but on the local/regional level I think David Angell may already have generated one of the best pics of 2014 (above). Angell, who frequently shoots photos for The Macomb Daily, was on hand yesterday for the seventh annual Polar Plunge in St. Clair Shores.

Here is a news account of the event written by the Daily's Mitch Hotts:

Sixteen residents of one St. Clair Shores neighborhood started out the New Year getting wet and wild with a quick dip into the frigid waters of Lake St. Clair.
Just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, about 100 people from Eagle Pointe subdivision near 10 Mile Road and Jefferson Avenue gathered at a community-shared plot of shoreline to watch the 7th annual Polar Plunge.

“Refreshing,” said Tony Brandelik, a facilities manager for Altair Engineering, as he emerged from the 30-degree water. “A little cold but very refreshing.”
The plunge is one of several gatherings the close-knit subdivision hosts to bring the community together, organizers said.
Organizers use a chainsaw to cut open a section of the 8-inch-deep ice covering the lake to create a plunging hole. The event started back in 2005 “on a dare” and grew from there, residents said.
As the plungers strip down to bathing suits in the dead of winter -- Wednesday’s morning temperature was about 13 degrees but felt colder with the wind -- onlookers gather onshore to watch the group jump into water about 4 feet deep.
“There’s always more spectators than jumpers, but that’s OK,” said Andy Barnes, 50. “If we can amuse people for a little bit, I’m good with that.”
Several of the plungers acknowledged they depend on liquid courage -- mostly beer but at least one person had a bloody Mary beverage -- to get them into the water. Some use the same beverages to warm up.
“The thawing out process takes all afternoon. You have to get some warm liquids into your body,” Barnes said.

The plungers ranged in age from 11 to 69 and included two females, ages 15 (above) and 19. Several of the men were U.S. Marine Corps veterans. The final jumper was Roy Vorhees, 69, who toted a Michigan State Spartans flag in honor the Rose Bowl that was scheduled for later in the day.

Len Marmino, the subdivision’s new president and a Marine vet, said Eagle Pointe hosts a fishing tournament, Easter egg hunt, wine tasting and other events that keeps the neighbors engaged.
“After the plunge, we asked everyone to come over with a plate of food and right now we have about 80 people in the house and everyone’s having a good time,” Marmino said a few hours after the plunge.